Dirigible



T. ROSE DIRIGIBLE June 24, 1930.

Filed July 26, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 0 BY 485$ m4 ATTORNEY T/mciliosa,

ms ags s june 24, 1930.

Filed July 26, 1529 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY T. ROSE i,3"66 35% DIRIGIBLE Filed July 26, 1929 3 Sheets-Shes? fmzaos ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1930 1 UNITED STATES THAI) nosn, or VAN NnYs, cnmromvm DIRIGIBLE Application filed? July 26, 1929. Serial No. 381,228.

The present invention relates to dirigibles, longitudinal air passage 11. Surrounding and comprehends a structure wherein the dirigible is provided with longitudinally and vertically disposed air passages, together with a novel arrangement of power operated propellers located within said passages, and adapted to be simultaneously or selectively used, either as power propellers to advance the dirigible, or for forcing the dirigible down to the ground. I

In carrying out the invention I contemplate a novel construction of means for controlling the operation of the various propellers, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and

. wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation.

Figure 4 is .a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the forward end of the dirigible.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the rear end of the dirigible.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the forward portion of the dirigible.

Figure 8 is a similar view through the rear portion thereof. j

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates the dirigible,- which, of course, may be constructed from any suitable material and also vary in dimensions without departing from the inventive idea. The

dirigible 10 is provided with a longitudinally disposed air passage or tube 11, while at appropriate points in the length of the dirigible, the latter is also provided with vertically disposed air passages. There are two of these vertically disposed air passages arranged adjacent the forward end of the dirigible indicated at 12, while a similar pair of such passages are arranged adjacent the rear of the dirigible and indicated at 13.-

As-clearly illustrated in Figures"? and 8 60 these passages extend or pass around the this longitudinal passage 11 and coextensive in length therewith is aplurality of metallic plates 14, certainof which project beyond the rear end of the dirigible to support the rudder 15. This rudder is controlled bymeansof a suitable cable 16 which is trained over pulleys 17 connected with an operating lever 18 located within the cabin 19 as illustrated. The longitudinal air passage 11 minimizes friction at the forward end of the dirigible as will be readily understood, while operating within this air passage is a plurality of motor operated propellers, to add to the power of the dirigible, or in other words to allow a greater volume of air to be forced through each passage.

These propellers are indicated at 20, each being operated by a motor 21, and it might be here stated that any number of such propellers may be employed, and that each propeller may be provided with any number of blades without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Similar propellers 22 and 23 arearranged beneath the bottom of the dirigible, and slightly in advance of the vertical air tubes above referred to, each of these latter mentioned propellers being operated by a suitable motor 24. The motor shaft for each propeller is provided with a clutch 25, so that the propellers can be called into use, or disconnected from their respective motors as the occasion may require. Each clutch is provided with a clutch actuated lever 26, which is terminally connected with an operating cable 27, the cable for the propeller 22 being connected with a manually controlled lever 28, while the cable for the propeller 23 is similarly connected with a lever 29, both of the above mentioned levers being arranged in the cabin 19.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the shaft for each motor operated propeller located in the bottom of the dirigible carries a bevel gear 31 which meshes with a similar gear 32 carried by the shaft 33 with an additional propeller indicated at 34:. Consequently the propellers 34 which are arranged in the lower ends of the vertically disposed air passages 12 and 13 respectively are operated from the motor shaft 30, and are used to force the dirigible downwardly. The: propeller shaft 33 is equipped with a clutch indicated generally at 35, whereby the propellers 34 can be selectively used as the occasion may require. Each clutch 35 is connected with a bell crank lever 36, which latter is connected by means of a cable 37 with a manually operable lever lo cated in the cabin 19, the lever for the clutch at the forward end of the dirigible being indicated at 38 while the lever for the other clutch is indicated-at 39.

It will also be noted upon inspection of Figures 4, 6 and 8, that the vertical air passages 13 have arranged therein a suitable ladder 40, while these air passages are also equipped with sliding doors 41 adjacent the bottom at an appropriate point in their length, so that access may be had to the longitudinal air passage 11 as will be readily understood. The dirigible is also provided with ground wheels, the wheels at the forward end of the machine being indicated at 42, while those at the rear of the machine are indicated at 43 and swivelly mounted so that the machine cah be swung around.

From the foregoing it will be noted, that when the dirigible is in use, the propellers 20 located in the longitudinal air passage 11 are operated to afford the machine added power, while allowing a greater volume of air to be forced through the passage. Furthermore, the construction and arrangement described permits the dirigible to take ofl. and land vertically. The propellers 22 and 23 are operated simultaneously with the propellers 20, during which time the propellers 34 located in the vertical air passages remain idle. However, when it is desired to lower the dirigible to the ground, the clutches 35 are operated to connect the propellers 34 with the motor shaft 30, and as the propellers 34 are located at the bottom of the air passages 12 and 13, they operate to force the dirigible downwardly. Ifdesired or found necessary the propellers 20 in the longitudinal air passage can be utilized to hold the dirigible against forward and rearward movement, while it is forced down by the propellers 34 as above stated. The various clutches above' described are all controlled by manually operable levers arranged within the immediate reach of the operator within the cabin 19 of the machine.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily understood,

all within the What I claim is 1. A dirigible having a longitudinal air passage coextensive in length therewith and opening at both ends, metallic plates radiating from said passage and projecting beyond one end of the dirigible, a rudder supported by said plates, means for controlling said rudder, and motor actuated propellers operating in said longitudinal air passage for the purpose specified.

2. A dirigible having a longitudinal air passage coextensive in length therewith and opening at both ends, motor actuated propellers operating in said passage, said dirigible having vertically disposed passages adacent the opposed ends and opening at the top and bottom of the dirigible, motor operated propellers arranged beneath the dirigible in advance of the vertical air passages, means for controlling the operation of the last mentioned propellers, additional propellers operating in the vertical passages adjacent the lower ends thereof, and means for operating said additional propellers simultaneously with and independently of the aforementioned propellers for the purpose specified.

3. A dirigible having a longitudinal air passage coextensive in len h therewith and opening at both ends, an spaced pairs of vertically disposed air passages adjacent the opposite ends thereof, the vertical air passages of each pair being bowed about the longitudinal air passage and having their corresponding extremities communicating with each other and opening at the top and bottom of the dirigible, and motor actuated propellers operating inthe various air passages for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THAD ROSE. 

